Condition control system



Nov. 20, 1945. J P. KRIECHBAUM 2,389,439

CONDITION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 2, 1942 INVENTOR. John Kfliachloaum actuated by the control means Patented Nov. 20, 1945 CONDITION CONTROL SYSTEM John P. Kriechbaum, Minneapolis, Minn, as-

signor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation oi Delaware Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 432.08:

3 Claims.

This invention relates to condition control systems, particularly of the type wherein a single control means provides the dual function of controlling a condition changer and a means for circulating a condition exchange medium between the condition changer and a space in which a normal condition value of the medium is to be maintained.

In condition control systems of this type the control means is, inturn, controlled by a plurality of circuits, each control circuit providing a control position of the control means corresponding to a particular control condition of the condition changer and circulator means necessary to maintain a normal condition value of the medium in the space.

Generally, each control circuit comprises one or more switch means responsive to variations in the condition value ofthe medium in the space and/or in the condition changer for initiating operation or the control means and switch means for terminating operation thereof. Such circuit arrangements necessarily involve complicated control circuits, the complications of which increase with each new control position added to the system.

A broad object of this invention is to provide improvements in condition control systems of this type, especially with respect to the control circuits forming apart thereof.

More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide simplifications in the arrangement and parts of such control circuits.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple circuit including such control means for providing a plurality of control positions thereof, and a plurality of simple shunting circuits for initiating operation of the control means.

A further object of this invention isto provide a minimum number of such shunting circuits capable of controlling a plurality of controlled conditions 01' the condition changer and the circulating means necessary to maintain the normal condition value of the medium in the space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple circuit including an electrical motor and a plurality of switch means operated thereby and connected in series therewith for terminating the operation thereof, and a plurality of simple circuits for shunting one or more of the switch means to initiate operation of the motor.

A further object or this invention is to provide a simple circuit including an electric motor and a plurality of switch means operated thereby and connected in series therewith for terminating the operation thereof which also serves as a holding circuit for insuring continued operation of the electric motor between politit'ms thereof Other objects are those implied or inherent in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter specifically described and claimed.

reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure shown is a schematic view of a condition control system em dying the principles of this invention.

For an embodiment best illustrative of the principles of this invention I have selected a con- Leading from the bonnet at the top of the furnace is a supply duct I which communicates with a space I to which air warmed in the bonnet is to be supplied. A circulating fan I having an operating motor II is provided for drawing the cooled air from the space I through a return duct II and forcing the air through the bonnet and supply duct 1 into the space I.

For controlling operation of the dampers 4 and I and the fan motor II, a damper motor generally designated I2 is provided. The damper motor comprises an operating shaft II driven by a motor it through a suitable reduction gear II. The motor I4 is of the uni-directional type being, as shown, a squirrel cage induction motor having a single energizing winding II and a rotor II. The motor drives the shaft II in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow II.

Suitably mounted on the operating shaft II is a pair of arms II and 2I which are inter-connected with the dampers 4 and I respectively by any suitable means such as chains 2| and 22 which may be trained over a convenient number of pulleys 23 as is necessary for each particular installation.

Also secured to shaft II is a plurality of cams 24, 25, 26 and 21, each having in its periphery an indentation 28, II, II and II respectively. The cams are so arranged on shaft II that each indentation bears a definite circumferentially displaced relation with respect to the other indentations. For example; taking indentation II as a datum, then the indentation 2| is disposed at indentation II at and indentation II at 330 from the indentation 2I, all for purposes hereinafter to appear.

Associated with cams 24, 2I, :I and 21 and actuated thereby is a plurality of switches I2, II, 34 and II, each having a movable blade II, II, II and II, a contact I, 4|, 42 and 4t carried thereby a fixed contact 44, 4I, 4I and 41 engageable with the movable contacts,- and a cam follower of insulating material II, 40, II and II respectively, each cam follower being adapted to drop into its, cooperating indentation 28, 29, 38, 3i as it becomes radially aligned therewith.

Fixed contacts 44 and 45 are connected by a suitable electrical conductor 52, and contacts 45 and 41 are connected by a conductor 53. Movable blades 31 and 38 are also connected by a suitable electrical conductor 54. d

From the foregoing it appears that the conductors between the switches 32, 33, 34, and 35 provide a series connection between them as follows: beginning at blade 35, through contacts 40 and u, conductor 52, contacts 45 and u, switch blade 31, conductor 54, switch blade 38, contacts 42 and 45, conductor 53, contacts 41 and 43, and thence to switch blade 39. This connection forms a part of a simple circuit for energizing motor winding i5, the energization of which is supplied by a transformer generally designated 55. The transformer 55 comprises a primary winding 55 connected to line 51, 58 which may be supplied by any suitable A. C. source, not shown, and a secondary winding 59. The circuit for motor l4, then, is as follows: from secondary winding 59 through a conductor 59, motor winding i5, conductor 5!, limit switches 32, 33, 34 and 35, and conductors 52 back to secondary winding 59. The cam followers 48, 49, 59 and 5| are preferably forrned of any suitable insulation material to prevent a flow of current between the limit switches along the shaft i3.

It is evident that as a result of the series connection between the limit switches, any one of them is capable of breaking the control circuit for the motor l4 when its respective cam follower drops into its co-acting indentation in its actuating cam. Moreover, because of the circumferential displacement of the indentation, but one switch is opened at any instant.

Also secured to shaft I3 is a cam 53 which also bears a, definite circumferential displacement with respect to the limit switch actuating cams, the leading edge 54 being shown, for example, as displaced 165 from indentation 28 of cam 24 and the trailing edge 55 being disposed 345 from the indentation 28 for a purpose hereinafter to appear.

Associated with cam 53 and actuated thereby, is a switch means 55 which comprises a movable blade 51, a, movable contact 58 carried by blade 51, a fixed contact 59 engageable with contact 58, and a cam follower 18 of insulating material engageable by cam 53 and also carried by blade 51. Switch 55 controls the energization of fan motor II), the circuit to the motor being as follows: from line 51 through conductor 1i, switch 53, conductor 12, motor l9, and through conductor 13 back to line 58.

For initiating operation of the control motor 14 to adjust shaft i3 to a position corresponding to a particularly controlled condition of the furnace I and circulating fan 9, a plurality of circuitsare provided for shunting one or more of the switches so as to provide continuous operation of the motor l4 until the particular switch is opened which provides a position of shaft l3 corresponding to the controlled condition desired. The various shunting circuits required to initiate the movement of the control motor l4 are established by a pair of thermostatic means 14 and 15 responsive to variations in the temperature of the space 8 and furnace l, respectively.

As shown in the drawing the thermostatic means 14 is a conventional single pole, double throw thermostat-which comprises a bimetallic strip 15 to which is suitably attached a contact blade 11. The contact blade 11 carries a contact 18 which is engageable with a pair of fixed contacts 19 and 80.

As shown in the drawing, the thermostatic means 15 is a conventional bonnet thermostat comprising a helical bimetallic strip 8| which is inserted in the bonnet 3 of the furnace I. The strip 8i actuates a rod 82 in the usual manner, the rod 82 in turn, actuating a pair of mercury switches 83 and 84. The switch 83 comprises a glass envelope 85 and two pairs of electrodes 85, 81 and 88, 89, the electrodes 85 and 88 bein joined to provide a common terminal. Each pair of electrodes may be electrically connected by a globule of mercury 98 sealed in the envelope in the usual manner. The switch 84 similarly comprises a glass envelope 9| and a globule of mercury 92 for electrically connecting a pair of electrodes 93 and 94.

As shown, the switch 83 is slightly inclined with the horizontal in which position the electrodes 88 and 89 are electrically connected, the electrodes 85 and 81 becoming electrically connected upon a rise in temperature of the bonnet 3 to a predetermined value. The switch 84 is further inclined in the same direction for the purpose of short circuiting its electrodes 93 and 94 at a considerably higher bonnet temperature than the temperature at which electrodes 85 and 81 of switch 83 would become connected, and as such, the switch 84 constitutes a limit control for preventing continued operation of the furnace at an unsafely high value, as will hereinafter appear.

In operation, with the parts in the position as shown in the drawing, arm i9 is in the full line position which corresponds to a closed position of the damper 4, arm 20 is in its full line position which corresponds to an open position of check damper 5, the cam 53 is in a position in which the fan switch 55 is opened and the fan motor i9 is inoperative, and cam 24 is in a position such that switch 32 is opened and motor i4 is inoperative.

Assume now that the temperature in space 8 drops below a normal value, the blade 11, then moves to the left in the direction of legend C and contact 18 engages fixed contact 80 which establishes a circuit for shunting switch 82, and establishes a circuit for energizing the motor 14 as follows: from secondary winding 59 through conductor 59, motor winding l5, wire 5i, conductor 95, contact 85, contact 18, blade 11, strip 15, a conductor 95, conductor 52, switch 33, conductor 54, switch 34, conductor 53, and switch 35, thence through conductor 52 back to secondary winding 59. Motor M then operates until switch 33 is opened and the arm i9 moves to the dotted line position marked 150 in which position draft damper 4 is in its open position as indicated by the dotted lines. The arm 20 simultaneously moves to the dotted line position marked 150 in which position the check damper 5 is closed as indicated by the dotted line position.

The furnace I then operates at an increased capacity and the temperature in the bonnet rises to a point where the switch 83 is tilted by the bimetallic element 8! in a counter-clockwise direction to such an extent that the electrodes and 81 are electrically connected. This establishes a circuit shunting the limit switch 33, and energizing the motor i4. This circuit may be traced as follows: from secondary winding 59 through conductor 59, motor winding I5, con- Bias-T Avatar-ism COPY ductor 8|, switch 82, conductor 82, a conductor 81, electrodes 88 and 81, a conductor 88, switch blade 88, switch 84, conductor 88, switch 88 and conductor 82 back to secondary winding 88. Motor N then operates until switch 84 is opened. During this operation, motor |4 drives arms l8 and 28 to the dotted line positions marked 180. The draft damper 4 and check damper 8 remain substantially in their dotted line positions to which they were driven on the previous operation of the motor. This operation of motor |4 also drives the leading edge 84 of cam 88 into engagement with the cam follower l8, lifting the latter so that the switch 88 is closed, thereby energizing the fan motor l8 and driving the fan 8 to supply the warmed air to the space 8.

When the temperature in the space 8 has reached a predetermined value as determined by the differential of the thermostat 14 the contact 18 engages the fixed contact I8 which establishes a circuit shunting all of the switches except switch 82. This circuit energizes motor l4 and may be traced as follows: from secondary winding 88 through conductor 88, motor winding l8, wire 8|, switch 82, conductor 82, conductor 88, strip 18, blade 11, contacts I8 and 18, a conductor 88, and conductor 82 back to secondary winding 88. Motor M then operates until the switch 82 is opened in which position the parts again occupy the position as shown in full lines on the drawing and one cycle of operation has been completed.

Assume that shaft l8 has been driven to its 180 position, wherein, as previously explained, switch 84 is open, draft damper 4 is open, the check damper 8 is closed, and the circulating fan I8 is operating. Assume further that the temperature in the bonnet rises to an unsafely high value before the space thermostat has become satisfied. Under such conditions the switch 84 is tilted by bimetallic element 8| to a position in which the electrodes 88 and 84 are electrically connected thereby establishing an energizing circuit for motor M which shunts limit switches 88 and 84 and may be traced as follows: from secondary winding 88, through conductor 88. winding |8, conductor 8|, switch 82, conductor 82, conductor 81, conductor I88, electrodes 88 and 84, conductor l8l, conductor 88, switch 88, and conductor 82 back to secondary winding 88. Motor l4 then operates until switch 88 is actuated. This operation of motor l4 drives arms l8 and 28 to the dotted line position marked 830' in which position the draft damper 4 is closed and check damper 8 is open, each occupying its respective full line position. The cam 88, however, is still in a position in which switch 88 is closed and the fan motor l8 continues to operate. The circulating fan l8, then, continues to supply warmed air to the space 8 until the thermostat 14 becomes satisfied and shunts all of the switches except switch 82. However, if the bonnet 8 cools before the space thermostat 14 becomes completely satisfied so that it is not engaging either of contacts 18 or 88, the switch 88 then assumes the position as shown, in which the electrodes 88 and 88 are electrically connected. This completes a circuit for energizing then operates until switch 82 is opened thereby restoring the system to its original condition as motor H which shunts switches 84 and 88 and previously described.

Assuming again that arms l8 and 28 are in their 180" position, in which switch 84 is opened, assume further that the temperature of the honnet drops before the room thermostat I4 becomes satisfied. It should be here pointed out that this condition is extremely unusual, since, with the draft damper open and the check damper closed, the furnace usually has suiilcient capacity to satisfy ordinary demands. However, in such cases in which the furnace might fail to function properly as, for example, where refueling is neglected or the fuel supply is depleted, or other conditions in which the furnace operates at decreased capacity, it is desirable to shut off the circulating fan to prevent a circulation of cold air to the space. Under such a condition, the switch 88 assumes the position, as shown, in which the electrodes 88 and 88 are electrically connected. This completes a circuit for energizing motor l4 which shunts the switches 84 and 88 and may be traced as follows: from secondary winding 88 through conductor 88, motor winding l8, conductor 8|, switch 82, conductor 82, switch 88, conductor 84, conductor 88, electrodes 88 and 88, conductor I82, and conductor 82 back to secondary winding 88. Assuming that the thermostat 14 is not calling for heat, in other words, the contact 18 is not engaging contact 88, the moto M will operate until the switch 82 is opened and the system is restored to its original condition as previously described. 1

Assume, however, that the room thermostat 14 is still calling for heat when the bonnet cools because of continuous operation of the fan 8 for too long a time, such as might be the case under extreme operating conditions as pointed out hereinabove. In such case the switch 88 shunts the switches 84 and 88 and the thermostat l4 shunts switch-82 since the contacts 18 and 88 are in engagement. The moto N then operates until the switch 88 is opened, which as previously described, corresponds to the position of shaft l8, in which the draft damper 4 is opened, the check damper 8 is closed and the circulating fan 8 is inoperative. When the bonnet becomes sufilciently warm to close contacts 88, 81 of the switch 88, thereby energizing the motor H to close the switch 88, the circulating fan will again be operated until the thermostat 14 is satisfied, thus repeating the cycle.

Assume a condition in which the air in the bonnet has been warmed to such an extent that the switch 88 is tilted to a position in which the electrodes 88 and 81 are electrically connected, and assume further that the shaft I8 is in its 0 position wherein switch 82 is open. Under such conditions, when the thermostat 14 calls for heat, engagement of contacts 18 and 88 shunts the switch 82, and since the switch 88 shunts the switch 88 the motor l4 operates directly to the position in which switch 84 is opened.

From the foregoing, it is now apparent that I have provided a simple motor control circuit and a minimum number of shunting circuits for initiating operation of the motor controlled circuit to provide a plurality of controlled conditions of the furnace and circulating fan. It is further obvious that the motor circuit also serves as a holding circuit to'insure continued operation of the motor operator in moving from one control position to another. This function is made possible by the sequential opening and closing of the series connected switches 32, 33, 84 and I5, each of which is opened only for a fraction of a revolution of the operating shaft l3.

While I have demonstrated the utility of such circuits in a condition control system employing a hot air furnace, I do not wish to be strictly limited thereto inasmuch as the principles involved are readily applicable to other systems, such, for example, as water, steam, gas and oil systems in which dampers, valves and the like may be used. Moreover, while I have illustrated and described but a single embodiment of a particular type of condition control system I contemplate all such modifications, additions, and substitutions as would naturally occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a furnace for heating a temperature changing medium, regulating means for regulating the temperature changing rate of said furnace, circulating means for circulating said medium to heat a space, electrical control means for controlling the operation of said re ulating means and said circulating means, a plurality of switches connected in a series circuit with said electrical control means and moved to open position in sequence by said control means, a first of said switches being moved to open po-- sition when said control means is in a position rendering said regulating means and said circulating means both inactive, a second of said switches being moved to open position when said control means is in a position rendering said regulating means active while maintaining said circulating means inactive, a third of said switches being moved to open position when said control means is in a position rendering both said regulating means and said circulating means active, a fourth of said switches being moved to open position when said control means is in a position rendering said regulating means inactive and said circulating means active, a space thermostat switch which closes when acid, a circuit including a direct shunt for first switch controlled by said space thermostat and the remainlng three of said series connected switches whereby said control means is energized and moves to that position in which said second switch opens, a first furnace switch responsive to the temperature of said medium which moves to closed position upon rise of the temperature of said medium toa predetermined value, a circuit for shunting said second switch controlled by said first furnace switch and including the remaining three ofsaid series connected switches whereby said control means moves to the position in which said third switch is open, a second furnace switch responsive to the temperature of said medium and which moves to closed position upon an excessive temperature of saidmedium, a circuit for shunting said second and third switches controlled by said second furnace switch and including the remaining two of said series connected switches whereby said control means moves to the position in which said first switch is open, a space thermostat switch which closes when hot for shunting said second, third and fourth switches, and a third furnace switch responsive to the temperature of said medium asaaess which closes when said medium is cold for shunting said third and fourth switches whereby upon the occurrence of either of said conditions said control means returns to its original position in which said first switch is open.

2. In combination, a furnace for heating a temperature changing medium, regulating means for regulating the temperature'changinz rate of said furnace, circulating means for circulating said medium to heat a space, electrical control means for controlling the operation of said regulating means and said circulating means, a plurality of switches connected in a series circuit with said electrical control means and moved to open position in sequence by said control means, a first of said switches being moved to open position when said control means is in a position rendering said regulating means and said circulating means both inactive, a second or said switches being moved to open position when said control means is in a position rendering said regulating means active while maintaining said circulating means inactive, a third of said switches being moved to open position when said control means is in a position rendering both said regulating means and said circulating means active, a space thermostat switch which closes when cold, a circuit including a direct shunt for said first switch controlled by said spaced thermostat switch and including the remainder of said series connected switches whereby said control means is energized and moves to that position in which said second switch opens, a furnace switch responsive to the temperature of said medium moved to closed position upon rise in the temperature of said medium to a predetermined value, a circuit for shunting said second switch controlled by said furnace switch and including the remainder of said series connected switches whereby said control means moves to the position in which said third switch is opened, and a circuit for returning said control means to its original position, said circuit including said hot space thermostat switch and one of said series connected switches whereby said second and third switches are shunted.

3. In combination, electrical control means for controlling the operation of a furnace regulating means and a circulating means,.said electrical control means comprising, a control arm, a circulating-switch, a plurality of switches connected in a series circuit with said electrical control means and moved to open position in sequence by said control means, a first of said switches being moved to open position when said control arm is in a position adapted to render the regulating means inactive and to open said circulating switch, a second of said switches being moved to open position when said control arm is in a position adapted to render the regulating means active while maintaining said circulating switch open, a third of said switches being moved to open position when said control arm is in a position adapted. to render both the regulating means active and close said circulating switch, and a fourth of said switches being moved to an open position when said control arm is in a position to render the regulating means active and to close said circulatin switch, whereby said control means may be caused to assume any of its said four positions by shunting one or more of its switches.

JOHN P. KRIECHBAUM. 

